Sin will take you farther than you ever expected to go; it will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay.— Kay Arthur ¹ I believe this is an area that much of the church is completely in the dark about. We … Continue reading Sin and Repentance
Dietary Laws: Can a Christian Eat a BLT? (Expanded and Updated)
The Mosaic law attached great importance to meats and drinks: the Christian religion attaches none.-Charles Spurgeon ¹Many of us have similar stories about our first time reading through the Bible. Genesis and Exodus feature lots of action. When we get to Leviticus, however, things tend to get more challenging. Many of the laws and purity … Continue reading Dietary Laws: Can a Christian Eat a BLT? (Expanded and Updated)
“Goat Herders?” Why Educated People Should Know the Bible
Is the Bible really the work of ignorant, "bronze age goat herders?" The above meme is a popular catch phrase among those who would try to discredit it. As usual, however, such characterizations are utterly ridiculous. Approximately 40 people were used by God to bring us the Bible. Given the agrarian nature of the culture, … Continue reading “Goat Herders?” Why Educated People Should Know the Bible
Election Year Sanity 3-“Our Side” Is Not Always Right
One of the most unfortunate things about modern politics is the excessive tribalism. Regardless of who wins elections, life does go on and we are the ones who have to live it out. We have lost our ability to have meaningful conversations and learn from one another's perspectives. As previously stated, I am generally conservative … Continue reading Election Year Sanity 3-“Our Side” Is Not Always Right
SEX!!!!!!!!!!
In one of my first times in reading through the Bible, the Book of Proverbs especially stood out to me. Even early in the Book, the picturesque images of godly wisdom really hit home in my teenage mind. At the same time, the contrasting images of a foolish person were just as vivid: So you … Continue reading SEX!!!!!!!!!!
Galileo’s Quest For a Rational Faith
This was a school paper from my Western Civ class in the fall of 2004"...the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: … Continue reading Galileo’s Quest For a Rational Faith
Election Year Sanity 2: “Fake News?”
"I hate and abhor falsehood..." Psalm 119:163 ESV "There's no such thing as fake news.It is either news, or fiction..."Fake" and "news" should be mutually exclusive. If it is fake. It cannot be called news. ¹" Veteran journalist Dave Foulk There was a time when iconic news anchor Walter Cronkite was known as "the … Continue reading Election Year Sanity 2: “Fake News?”
Election Year Sanity: Guidelines For Engagement
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes-Psalm 118:9 ESV The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world- Reinhold Niebuhr ¹ My relationship with partisan politics has a complex history. At different times in my life, I have supported both parties as well … Continue reading Election Year Sanity: Guidelines For Engagement
Troubling Bible Passages 3: The Death Penalty
Any believer attempting to share his or her faith will eventually be confronted with the cliched "gotcha" verses often cited by unbelievers. Often, they will bring up ritual purity laws from the Old Testament which may indeed appear strange to modern Western eyes. Others, however, hit very close to home in today's world and how … Continue reading Troubling Bible Passages 3: The Death Penalty
Troubling Bible Passages 2: Genocide
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:23-25) In Part One of this series on Troubling Bible Passages, we looked at the Bible's teaching about Slavery and the common misconceptions about it. For Part Two, we will ponder the question "Why doesn't God do anything about the evil in … Continue reading Troubling Bible Passages 2: Genocide